Report: KHL plagued by financial troubles, teams in danger of folding
The ruble is in trouble, and so is the Kontinental Hockey League.
The European professional league is believed to be scheduling crisis meetings for later this week in the midst of serious financial difficulties being experienced by several clubs, James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail reports.
Three KHL teams may fold due to monetary issues related to crashing ruble and Russian economy. Some coaches haven't been paid anything.
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) December 16, 2014
Multiple sources confirming players on those three KHL teams haven't been paid this season: "Roughly one-third of KHL has serious problems."
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) December 16, 2014
The 28-team league, spread across seven countries, was at one point believed to be an emerging threat to the NHL in terms of enticing talent overseas. Two teams, however, bowed out of the 2014-15 season due to financial troubles (Lev Praha and Spartak Moscow), and others appear to be skating on thin ice.
It makes us wonder if Ilya Kovalchuk is missing the friendly swamps of New Jersey.